News

CO2 emissions set a record-breaking high in 2018

According to researchers at the Global Carbon Project, CO2 emissions set a record-breaking high in 2018. Global fossil fuel emissions have grown for a second year in a row. "Global energy demand is outpacing powerful growth in renewables and energy efficiency," said Stanford University scientist Rob Jackson.

The group estimates that global CO2 emissions from fossil fuel sources will reach a record level of just over 37 billion tons in 2018, an increase of 2.7% compared to last year. However, research shows that renewable energy sources around the world mainly come online, as add-ons to fossil fuel energy sources — in particular, natural gas — and not substitutes.

"It isn't enough for renewables to grow," Jackson said, "They need to displace fossil fuels. So far, that's happening for coal but not for oil or natural gas. We need emissions to stabilize and quickly trend toward the zero line."